Home Ingredients Odilia™ (Opuntia Prebiotic Cladode Extract)
Gut Health

Odilia™ (Opuntia Prebiotic Cladode Extract)

Opuntia ficus-indica
Evidence Level
Limited
2 Clinical Trials
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Odilia™ is a branded prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) cladode extract from Bionap, standardized in prebiotic polysaccharides and piscidic acid and marketed for gut health and the gut-brain-muscle axis. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Opuntia prebiotic supplementation has shown improvement in gut dysbiosis, supporting the plant's prebiotic action. Honest framing: Odilia's own branded clinical trial is not PubMed-indexed, so it leans on generic Opuntia prebiotic evidence.

Studied Dose Manufacturer guidance: ~300 mg/day. Taken with water, ideally with meals.
Active Compound Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) cladode extract standardized in prebiotic poly/oligosaccharides and piscidic acid. Odilia™ is manufactured by Bionap.

Benefits

Prebiotic gut-microbiome support

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Opuntia ficus-indica prebiotic supplementation improved gut dysbiosis. Odilia is positioned on this prebiotic action; its own branded trial is not PubMed-indexed.

Supported by Trial 1

Digestive comfort and regularity

Opuntia cladode mucilage adds gentle soluble fiber that supports stool regularity and a healthy gut environment.

Supported by Trial 1

Gut-brain-muscle axis positioning

Bionap markets Odilia for the gut-brain-muscle axis on the basis of microbiome modulation; this broader claim is emerging rather than established.

Supported by Trial 2

Mechanism of action

1

Prebiotic fermentation

Opuntia poly- and oligosaccharides are fermented by beneficial gut bacteria, feeding the microbiome and supporting short-chain fatty acid production.

2

Soluble-fiber mucilage

The cladode mucilage provides viscous soluble fiber that supports bowel regularity and a stable gut environment.

Clinical trials

1
Opuntia Prebiotic Gut-Dysbiosis RCT (component)

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Opuntia ficus-indica prebiotic supplementation (Nutrients, 2024).

Adults with gut dysbiosis

Opuntia prebiotic supplementation improved measures of gut dysbiosis versus placebo — generic support for Odilia's prebiotic action.

2
Branded Odilia Trial (manufacturer)

Manufacturer-reported clinical trial on gut health and wellbeing. Not PubMed-indexed.

Adults seeking digestive support

Bionap reports gut-health and wellbeing benefits. Treat as manufacturer evidence pending indexed publication.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well tolerated; prickly pear is a food.
Mild gas, bloating or changes in bowel habit possible when starting a prebiotic.
Take with adequate water given the soluble-fiber content.
Allergy is uncommon but possible.

Important Drug interactions

As a fiber-containing prebiotic, separate from medications by a couple of hours to avoid reduced absorption.
Antidiabetic medications: Opuntia can modestly lower blood glucose — monitor.
No other well-documented interactions.

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Frequently asked questions about Odilia™ (Opuntia Prebiotic Cladode Extract)

What is Odilia?

Odilia is a branded prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) cladode extract from Bionap, rich in prebiotic fibers, taken to support the gut microbiome and digestion. A placebo-controlled trial of Opuntia prebiotic supplementation improved gut dysbiosis.

How is Odilia different from other Opuntia extracts?

Odilia is standardized as a prebiotic gut ingredient (polysaccharides and piscidic acid), distinct from prickly pear extracts used for weight management or antioxidant skin support. Its own branded trial is manufacturer-run and not PubMed-indexed.

What is Odilia used for?

Odilia is researched primarily for Gut Health. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Opuntia ficus-indica prebiotic supplementation improved gut dysbiosis. Odilia is positioned on this prebiotic action; its own branded trial is not PubMed-indexed.

What is the recommended dosage of Odilia?

The clinically studied dose is Manufacturer guidance: ~300 mg/day. Taken with water, ideally with meals. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Odilia safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Odilia is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well tolerated; prickly pear is a food. Mild gas, bloating or changes in bowel habit possible when starting a prebiotic. It may also interact with some medications. Odilia is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Odilia interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: As a fiber-containing prebiotic, separate from medications by a couple of hours to avoid reduced absorption. Antidiabetic medications: Opuntia can modestly lower blood glucose — monitor. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Odilia?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Odilia as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 2 clinical trials and 2 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(2 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Mellai M, Allesina M, Edoardo B, Cascella F, Nobile V, Spina A, et al. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial: Efficacy of Opuntia ficus-indica Prebiotic Supplementation in Subjects with Gut Dysbiosis. Nutrients. 2024;16(5). doi: 10.3390/nu16050586.PubMedUsed to support: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which Opuntia ficus-indica prebiotic supplementation improved gut dysbiosis — generic Opuntia evidence behind Odilia's prebiotic, digestive positioning.
  2. Cruz-Rubio JM, Mueller M, Viernstein H, Loeppert R, Praznik W Prebiotic potential and chemical characterization of the poly and oligosaccharides present in the mucilage of Opuntia ficus-indica and Opuntia joconostle. Food Chemistry. 2021;362:130167. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130167.PubMedUsed to support: Characterizes the prebiotic poly- and oligosaccharides in Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage — the fiber fraction that underlies Odilia's prebiotic action.